Statement by Rep. Jerrold Nadler on the

Troop Readiness, Veterans Health & Iraq Accountability Act

Mr. Speaker, I have opposed the Iraq war since before it started. I voted against the original authorization for the use of force in Iraq in October, 2002, and have been a vocal critic of the war ever since. I believe this war is a mistake. It has resulted in a tragic loss of life, a waste of resources, and a diversion from the real war against Islamic terrorists now being fought mostly in Afghanistan. We should withdraw our troops from Iraq as quickly as possible.

Today, the House of Representatives considers the Troop Readiness, Veterans Health & Iraq Accountability Act (Iraq Accountability Act). I will vote for this bill for the same reason the Republicans oppose it and the President threatens to veto it -- because the bill imposes a legally binding timetable to end the war and bring our troops home safely.

The bill has been criticized for not going far enough. Some have said the timeline is not fast enough and there are too many exceptions to the withdrawal mandate. I agree. It is not the bill I would have written. But it is the best we can get now, and it is a major step to hastening the end of the war in Iraq.

If this bill passes, it will mark the beginning of the end of the war, and we can seek to strengthen its mandates later. If it fails, the vote will be noted as a blank check to the President to continue the war as he chooses.

Today, we vote to stand up to President Bush. The Bush Administration began the war in Iraq, has mismanaged almost every aspect of it, and has squandered billions of dollars for which they cannot account. Today, we reject the President’s proposal to continue funding without limit for a war without end. We refuse to offer him a blank check. Instead, we offer a plan to end the war and to withdraw our troops by a date certain.

We must not flinch. And we must not succumb to the temptation to reject a good bill that will hasten the end of this war because we do not now have the votes to get a better bill.